Can I sell shirts with movie quotes on them?

If it is physically tangible and has been put down in writing it will be protected under copyright law. This includes quotes from books, films, TV programmes or speeches. Some quotes may also be trademarked — so make sure you do a thorough search before using it for commercial use.

Are lines from movies copyrighted?

A: Lines from movies are, in most cases, neither protected by copyright nor in the public domain. In fact, lines spoken by characters in films need to sound “real”, and real people don’t speak in such carefully constructed phrases as to warrant copyright protection.

Can I sell shirts with a phrase?

Placing a phrase on a shirt is not trademark use automatically. That is ornamental use. Someone may acquire a trademark for “I LOVE YOU” as a clothing brand, but this does not mean that they can now prevent all uses of the phrase “I LOVE YOU” on clothing.

Are TV show quotes copyrighted?

The short answer is yes. Using quotes will generally be permitted. This is largely because using what amounts to a very small portion of a much larger body of work will not be considered copyright infringement and short phrases or small groups of words are not protected under copyright law.

Can you sell quotes from TV shows?

Can I sell merch with quotes?

Generally yes, provided you do not imply sponsorship or endorsement by the author of the quote or any third party, particularly some business. Many quotes are registered trademarks. If you put IT’S THE REAL THING! on a shirt and sell it you will surely hear from trademark lawyers for Coca Cola.

How do you copyright a shirt phrase?

You must file an application for a linguistic or visual trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The application process can be expensive and confusing, so it is often best to consult with a trademark attorney.

Can I copyright a phrase for a shirt?

Because a slogan or design silk-screened onto a T-shirt is not a trademark. A trademark is any word, phrase, design or device that identifies the source of the goods identified by the mark. Don’t even attempt to register the trademark for a slogan or design that simply appears across the chest or back of tee-shirt.